Using an iPhone & iPad in Thailand

When is iPad 2 Coming to Thailand?

Posted on March 3, 2011

Today saw the announcement of details about the new iPad 2. The release date is expected to be 11th March 2011 in America and about 25th March 2011 for 20 or so countries internationally. No news yet about an official release date for Thailand. The iPad 1 was released in USA in April 2010. We all expected it to then come out in Thailand by June 2010. Although we were able to buy marked-up versions in the grey market at MBK shortly after people in the US, we didn't get an official release of the iPad in Thailand until December 2010. Personally I think the delay was due to the problems with the Thai keyboard. As we now have an official Thai keyboard, hopefully this time we won't have to wait so long. I will post news on release dates here for Thailand as well as prices as soon as I get them.

Although we don't have the iPad 2 in Thailand just yet, they have interestingly reduced the price of iPad 1 in the Thailand Apple Store by 3,000 baht.

New Prices of iPad 1 Wi-Fi version:

16GB Price 12,900 Baht (originally 15,900 Baht)
32GB Price 15,900 Baht (originally18,900 Baht)
64GB Price 18,900 Baht (originally21,900 baht)

New Prices of iPad 1 3G+WiFi version

16GB Price 16,900 Baht (originally19,900 baht)
32GB Price 19,900 Baht (originally22,900 baht)
64GB Price 22,900 Baht (originally25,900 baht)

The iPad 2 looks really great but it doesn't really hold any surprises. It has two cameras, including front facing, so you can now do video conferencing more comfortably. It is also thinner, lighter and of course faster. One thing that is the same is the 10 hour battery life which is obviously great. Some things that didn't make it, but which might be in iPad 3, is the retina screen similar to the iPhone 4 and USB ports.

Now comes the question, are these new features enough to make me go out and buy iPad 2 once it is released in Thailand? Personally I think not. I like the idea of the two cameras but I don't think I would use it enough to justify buying another iPad. The speed is obviously good, but I think I am happy sticking with the original iPad until at least when the iPad 3 is released. If rumours are true, this might happen as early as the end of the this year. But, even if it doesn't, I think I can wait another year or so.

Now comes the question for people who have been waiting to buy their first iPad. Is it best to buy the iPad 1 now at the reduced price or wait for the iPad 2 to be released in Thailand? We don't have official prices for the iPad 2 in Thailand yet, but we are going to presume that they will be released at the same price as the old iPad 1. So, we could be looking at prices like the following. (Of course, this might change if there is a delay in the release and if there is a change in exchange rates.)

Expected iPad 2 Prices for Wi-Fi version:

16GB Price 15,900 Baht
32GB Price 18,900 Baht
64GB Price 21,900 baht

Expected iPad 2 Prices for 3G+WiFi version

16GB Price 19,900 baht
32GB Price 22,900 baht
64GB Price 25,900 baht

If you haven't bought your first iPad yet, I would actually suggest that you buy the cheapest iPad 1 version that starts at 12,900 baht and then wait until iPad 3 like me. Although the cheapest iPad 2 is expected to be 15,900 baht, we might not see it here for another 8 months if it turns out to be the same story as last time.

What about you, are you going to buy the iPad 2?

Filed under: iPad 64 Comments

More Thai Magazines for the iPad

Posted on January 25, 2011

The number of Thai magazines available for the iPad is continuing to increase. Today alone sees the release of Digital Camera Thailand and T3 Thailand. As usual, they offer at least one magazine as a free download for you to try out. If you like it, then you can subscribe to other editions from inside the app.

Other Thai magazines on the iPad:

Filed under: iPad, Thai Magazines, Thailand No Comments

Thailand 2010: Top Free iPad Apps

Posted on December 25, 2010

Looking for some good iPad apps? Here are the Top 10 lists of iPad apps in the Thailand iTunes store for 2010.

Top Free iPad Apps in Thailand 2010:

Want some more? Here are a few from the US charts: Solitaire, IMDb Movies & TV, Kindle, Pimple Popper Lite, Pocket Frogs, Shazam for iPad, BBC News and Twitter.

Top Paid iPad Apps in Thailand 2010:

Looking for some more? Here are some of the top paid iPad apps from the US iTunes store: Glee Karaoke, Wolfram Alpha, Pinball HD, Friendly Plus for Facebook and Star Walk for iPad.

Post in the comments if your favourite iPad apps from this year are not here.

Filed under: iPad 1 Comment

AR Drone Quadricopter in Thailand

Posted on December 19, 2010

One of the coolest accessories for the iPhone and iPad this year is this remote controlled AR Drone helicopter. AR.Drone generates its own Wi-Fi network to which you connect your iPod touch or iPhone to control.

"The AR.Drone remote-control quadricopter is a groundbreaking device combining the best of many worlds, including modelling, video gaming, and augmented reality. The AR.Drone is remote-controlled by an iPhone and features a number of sensors, including a front camera, vertical camera, and an ultrasound altimeter. The AR.Drone can also be used in video games, such as AR.FlyingAce, a dogfight between two AR.Drones." [Product page on Amazon.com]

I first saw some reviews and videos of the AR Drone a few months back and I must say I was impressed. I was really tempted to buy one as the price wasn't too expensive. At Amazon.com they are selling at $299. Yesterday I was shopping at Paradise Park on Srinakarin road when I saw a large display for these drones. Surprisingly the Parrot AR Drone is now officially being sold in Thailand. This is the shop assistant giving me a demonstration. Unlike normal remote controlls you can tilt your iPhone to make the drone move to the left or right. The kit comes with two sets of wings. These ones are for inside to protect the blades. The price in Thailand is 12,990 baht ($430). This is more expensive than America which is 9,014 baht but cheaper than the UK which is 14,004 baht. Of course you have to pay shipping and possibly customs on top of these prices.

You can use the AR Drone by yourself or you can team up with a friend to play augmented reality games. There are already half a dozen apps in iTunes specifically for the AR Drone. As well as games there is a flight recorder app which you can use to record a video of your flight from one of the onboard cameras. It does sound like a lot of fun but at the same time I keep thinking it might be a five minute wonder. It all depends on where it goes next. At the moment the quality of the video is not that great . The battery length of only 15 minutes is also a concern. It then takes 90 minutes to fully charge it. A spare batter costs 1,790 baht. At the moment they don't have any other accessories in Thailand which might be a problem if you crash it and one of the blades break.

The AR Drone is being sold in Thailand at .LIFE which is on the 2nd floor of Paradise Park on Srinakarin Road. It was launched a couple of weeks ago and they have already sold ten units. I am told that they are also selling it at iStudio in Bangkok at Central World Plaza and Gaysorn Plaza. If you have bought one then please let us know all about it.

Filed under: Accessories, Game, iPad 1 Comment

Thai Magazines on the iPad

Posted on December 1, 2010

With the official launch of the iPad in Thailand comes at least a dozen Thai magazines coming out with e-versions. The apps themselves are free to download. But then there is a shop where you can buy individual magazines or subscribe. There also seems to be back editions in case you missed any. Many of these magazines are offering at least one free edition. I have listed below all the ones that I have found so far. But, I think there are more:

Filed under: iPad, Thai Magazines, Thailand No Comments

Price & Release date of iPad in Thailand

Posted on November 30, 2010

The iPad is finally to be officially released in Thailand on Friday 3rd December 2010 with a starting price of 15,900 baht. It will be sold at iStudio and Apple Shop. The official prices for iPad are several thousand baht cheaper than grey market at MBK and very favourable when compared to USA and UK.

The official prices for the iPad in Thailand are as follows:

iPad (Wi-Fi)

16GB Price 15,900 Baht
32GB Price 18,900 Baht
64GB Price 21,900 Baht

iPad (3G/Wi-Fi)

16GB Price 19,900 Baht
32GB Price 22,900 Baht
64GB Price 25,900 Baht

Source: iStudio website

If you were hesitating before about buying an iPad, now would be the best time. The prices are good and you will have warranty for Thailand. However, there are rumours of the release of iPad 2 in early 2011. This is expected to have two cameras to enable video chat, a USB port and also a better screen. Even if the iPad is released in the USA in early part of next year, it will probably be another six months after that before we will see the iPad in Thailand. It's up to you whether you want to wait or not. Don't forget, by the time we get the iPad 2, they will already be talking about the release of iPad 3.

Filed under: iPad 13 Comments

Release Date for iPad in Thailand

Posted on November 3, 2010

It has been about seven months now since the release of the iPad in America. So far, it hasn't been officially released in Thailand. However, like many other people, I have already bought an iPad at a store in MBK in Bangkok. Prices have come down so much that it is now comparable to the US and cheaper than the UK. The only disadvantage in buying before the official release date is that you cannot take it yet to the Apple service center if you have a problem. The second problem, at least for Thai people, is that there isn't a proper Thai keyboard. It is true that there are apps to let you type Thai, but then you have to copy and paste what you have typed.

We believe that the reason that there hasn't been an official release of the iPad in Thailand is due to this fact that it is not ready for the Thai market. However, the next update to the operating system (iOS 4.2) will have the Thai keyboard. This has been with the developers for the last two months with a promised release date of November 2010. Yesterday, Apple released the "Gold Master" version of this update to developers which is the last one before final release. This means that iOS 4.2 is expected to be released within 1-2 weeks. At the same time, we have had rumours of an official Thailand release date for the iPad for the end of November 2010. This seems to tie in well with the release of the Thai keyboard for the iPad.

Follow me on Twitter @RichardBarrow to get the latest news for iPhone and iPad in Thailand.

Filed under: iPad, Latest News 4 Comments

Visit Thailand on the iPad

Posted on October 15, 2010

The first iPad app to be published by the Tourism Authority of Thailand celebrates the stunning beauty of Thailand's cultures, locales and traveling experience through an array of brochures and magazines. The published material contains breathtaking photography and engaging articles perfect for regular and potential travelers planning trips or reminiscing about Thailand's picturesque beauty.

I think there is a difference between the kind of apps that you do for the iPhone and then for the iPad. A good thing about the iPad is that you can use it to flip through picture books. That is one advantage over the Kindle as you can view the pictures in glorious colour. This is basically what the TAT have done with their first of a series of "books" for their VisitThailand app for the iPad. This is basically a library app where you will be able to download various colour brochures about Thailand. The first one available today is "Phuket". The e-magazine is split up into several sections: 12 Beaches & Bays, 15 Major Sights & Attractions,Tours & Cruises, 5 Sporting Opportunities, 6 Special Events and Getting there & Accommodation.

Don't expect too much and then you won't be disappointed. There is a map but neither that nor any of the pages are interactive. There are three videos embedded into the pages though the first two are advertisements for Thailand and only the last focuses on Phuket itself. It is a surprisingly large app at 185 MB. I presume most of that is taken up with the Phuket brochure though I am not sure why. The first page is an empty bookcase with only the Phuket brochure on display. I wonder how big this will get by the time they have finished. I did have a few problems with it to start with as it kept crashing and two of the videos wouldn't play. But, it seems alright now after I have re-booted the iPad. I know it is free, but I am not sure if it is really worth downloading such a large app just for a dozen pages!

Filed under: iPad, Thailand No Comments

uTalk Learning Thai

Posted on October 12, 2010

Developed by a company with 20 years of experience in language learning and over ten million customers, uTalk HD gives you the key words you need and a fast, scientific way of remembering them.

There are quite a few apps for the iPhone and iPad that have been brought out to help teach you Thai. Some are better than others. The one that I am reviewing today is called uTalk HD Thai, and although it might not be the most comprehensive, it is certainly one of the most professionally produce apps for learning Thai that I have seen for a while. It is very well designed and works perfectly on both the iPhone and the iPad and you only have to pay once. You are basically presented with nine categories: first words, food, colours, phrases, body, numbers, time, shopping and countries. They claim that there are 275 words and phrases all of which are useful in helping you to start speaking Thai quickly.

If you go into one of the categories, say food, you are then presented with a list of vocabulary words. You can either go through these in the correct order or jump to any that you like. Pictures are very important in this method of learning. You see the word in Thai and English, you see a picture of it and you also hear a native speaker reading it. You then have the option to record yourself. When you click the recording button you will hear the word first and then you have to repeat after it. You then get to hear how you say it compared to the native speaker. Each category also has three types of games. In the first game you are presented with four different pictures and you are told what each of them are in Thai. The pictures are then mixed up and you are told to pick a certain card. In the second game you are presented with four picture cards but this time you are not told the name of each one. You then have to follow the instructions to pick out the correct picture. In the last game you are presented with a certain number of picture cards for only a few seconds before they are turned over. You are then asked to pick out the cards as and when you are asked in Thai.

I have enjoyed using this well produced app for the iPhone and iPad. At $11.99 the uTalk HD Thai app might be pricier than others for teaching Thai, but the audio and visual content is certainly of a higher standard. You are also able to switch the language of instruction from English to one of 35 different languages. So, if you are German for example, you can have the menu in German instead. Sometimes the prices of apps drop down for a few days. If this happenss to this one or any other app that I have reviewed I will post the news immediately on my Twitter feed @RichardBarrow.

Filed under: iPad, Learning Thai 2 Comments

Easy Thai Script for the iPad

Posted on October 5, 2010

Learn to read and write the Thai alphabet the easy way with this app for the iPad. It is especially helpful for people learning the Thai language at beginner or intermediate level.

Easy Thai Script for the iPad is a useful app to help you practice writing the Thai alphabet. I have used one before for the iPhone called TH-Write but the small screen is not so good for you to write the letters with your finger. On the iPad you get a bigger surface for you to practice writing. Above this you can see the letter you need to draw and it also has arrows and numbers to show you where to start writing and in which direction. Once you get used to it, you can turn off the arrows. The app will automatically save your work but there is an option to either clear for one letter or for all the letters. When writing the letter, it is advisable to say aloud the Thai word for it. Luckily there is a button to press so that you can hear a native Thai speaker reading the letter. One feature missing here, that the iPhone app has, is an outline of each letter that will help guide you as you write on top of it. Would be nice to have this and also the option for it to be removed. The present price for Easy Thai Script is $1.99 (about 6o baht) and can be purchased now in iTunes.

COMPETITION: I liked this app so much that I asked the developer if I could have a spare promo code to give away to readers of my blog. To win is simple. All you have to do is tweet this:

I want to practice writing the Thai alphabet on the iPad - http://bit.ly/b7CJ44 /via @RichardBarrow

All names will be entered into a hat and the lucky winner will be picked tomorrow, 6th October 2010. But don't forget, I cannot send you the promo code by DM if you don't follow me!

Filed under: iPad, Learning Thai 2 Comments

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การใช้ไอโฟนในประเทศไทย

On this blog I will be sharing with you tips and methods of using an iPhone and iPad in Thailand. I am not pretending to be an expert, but I hope that from my personal experience of using an iPhone for my work and pleasure you might gain some knowledge. As well as reviewing apps that I use, I will also post about accessories and also the latest news from around the world.

- Richard Barrow

Twitter: @RichardBarrow
Archives: @TwitterArchives
Contact: @Paknamweb.com

Useful Posts & Websites

* Open a US iTunes Account
* Tips for Using an iPhone in Thailand

Amitiae is an excellent website for people interested in Apple, Mac, IT, iOs, Asia and Everywhere else

Over at Women Learning Thai, you will also find some useful blogs about using an iPhone in Thailand.

Using an iPhone & iPad in Thailand Tips, App Reviews and News for the iPhone and iPad by Richard Barrow